asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the amount spent to date on the land project.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Project Expenditure.
The total amount spent on the land project from its initiation in 1949 to date is approximately £12,970,000. If I may be permitted to add, Sir, that appears to me to be no inconsiderable contribution to the task of increased production.
Will the Minister give the House an opportunity of learning in detail the nature of the increased production?
Very gladly. It is already hanging in evidence in a map outside the library door if the Deputy will take the trouble to look to the right.
That is not a report in reference to the expenditure of £12,000,000. The House and the country are entitled to know from the Minister what the result of the expenditure of that money has been and if there has been this increase in production which he claims.
I should be very happy to arrange a conducted tour for the Deputy and to show him land, producing crops to-day, which was producing nothing but whins yesterday. I shall be very glad to apply any test he chooses and if he indicates the nature of his inquiry I will be happy to arrange a conducted tour for him.
The nature of the inquiry is whether the Minister can point to any particular area, such as a county, or a barony, or a parish and show the increased production in such an area.
I shall do better. I shall prove it to the Deputy, field by field, if he will give me the particular inquiry.
Major de Valera
Would the Minister be prepared to give the total agricultural production in 1948 and the total agricultural production to-day and show what value we have got for the expenditure of that £12,000,000?
I never believe in answering questions in the form in which they are presented by my political enemies. Any question that is put to me for the purpose of eliciting information, I shall answer very gladly, but I will not buy any pups.
Major de Valera
If we have invested £12,000,000 in this scheme and agricultural production is down by 2 per cent. how have we got a return?
The answer is that it is not.